Oxford Exam Trainer b2 Audioscript Hu

Oxford Exam Trainer B2 (Hungary) Student’s Book Audioscript
Track 1.02
Unit 1, page 11, exercise 2

Mr Price So, Emma. How’s your project about communal living coming along?
Emma It’s really interesting, Mr Price, and I’ve found out a lot already.
Mr Price Can you explain a bit about the background? Why did you want to do your project
on this in the first place?
Emma Well, I got the idea when I was talking to my grandma. She’s lived all her life in the same
place. She said that in the past this is what everyone did, so there was a strong sense of community.
Track 1.03

Mr Price So, Emma. How’s your project about communal living coming along?
Emma It’s really interesting, Mr Price, and I’ve found out a lot already.
Mr Price Can you explain a bit about the background? Why did you want to do your project
on this in the first place?
Emma Well, I got the idea when I was talking to my grandma. She’s lived all her life in the same
place. She said that in the past this is what everyone did, so there was a strong sense of community.
Unfortunately, a lot of her elderly neighbours have died recently and younger people have moved to
the area. My grandma hasn’t even met some of these new neighbours, so she says that life around
her has really changed. I felt that there must be some people who weren’t happy with the way
things were going and I wanted to see if I could find out what they are doing about it.
Mr Price I think you’re right. Many people used to know everyone in their local area, but
surely there must have been disadvantages to that, too …
Emma Oh, there definitely were. Growing up in a community where everyone knows you can be
really supportive, yet limiting. People may expect you to behave in a certain way and that might
mean you don’t develop into the person that you want to be. It’s likely that there was a lot of
gossiping about people, with everyone wanting to know everyone else’s business.
1
Oxford Exam Trainer B2 Student Book Audio script (Hungary)
Mr Price But I suppose today’s society isn’t any better …
Emma Well, many people may have hundreds of so-called friends on social networking sites. It’s
common knowledge that this isn’t really the case, because at the end of the day most people go
back to an empty house and look at their computer screen or watch TV on their own. It can be really
isolating and people need human contact – it’s a natural thing.
Mr Price So, is communal living becoming popular?
Emma It is, and it’s probably partly as a reaction to this modern way of living. Many groups of
people around the world are trying to create a similar kind of community to that which our
grandparents once lived in.
Mr Price Mmm, can you give an example?
Emma Well, there’s the type of commune where everyone lives together. I found one called
Synchronicity in Los Angeles. It’s mainly a group of writers and artists who live together and they find
it inspiring to share the space. This wouldn’t suit everyone, though, so the group includes other
people who come along to their meals to be part of the community, but stay in their own separate
accommodation.
Mr Price And is that quite common?
Emma Apparently, there are about two thousand of these types of shared communities in the US.
Mr Price Well, it sounds like you’re getting together some interesting information, Emma. I
look forward to seeing the final report.
Emma Thank you.
Track 1. 04

Speaker 1
I know most people believe that men and women think very differently from each other. They
usually say that women are more emotional than men and care more about other people, but men
are better at keeping a clear head and making important decisions – and they quote examples of this
typical male and typical female behaviour. But as far as I’m concerned, this is too simple. I could give
lots of examples of men who are very caring and emotional and women who are efficient decision-
makers. I just don’t think you can generalize this much about what men and women are like.
2
Speaker 2
I read an article in a magazine the other day which questioned the idea that men and women’s
brains are different. Apparently, a university professor has done a study looking at the structure of
men’s and women’s brains, and she’s found that there is no biological evidence to support the idea
that the way they think is different. I must say I really find that impossible to accept – I mean it’s OK
studying brains in a laboratory, but you just have to look at how differently men and women behave
in everyday situations to know that they’re completely different.
Speaker 3
It’s an interesting question. If you watch how people behave, you can definitely see differences
between men and women. Take one example – driving. If a man and a woman are in a car together,
it’s almost always the man who’s driving. If you ask women why this is, they’ll tell you it doesn’t
matter to them whether they drive or not. The implication is that men are unhappy unless they’re in
control and women are happy to let men be in control. So – yes, I’d say they think differently, but
how does this come about? Is it a question of genes or upbringing?
Speaker 4
As I see it, it’s purely down to how people are brought up, and there’s no denying that girls and boys
are treated differently in the family. Different things are expected of them. Mothers often spoil their
sons – you know, doing everything for them – while they expect their daughters to help around the
house and babysit their younger brothers and sisters. This is why boys end up believing they’re the
important ones, and why girls accept caring roles. In the end, the men and women they become
think differently because they see the world from different points of view.
Speaker 5
As a primary school teacher working with young children, I can honestly say that when they first
arrive at the school there’s very little difference between boys and girls – in the way they think or
the way they behave. But the differences start to develop quite soon – mainly, I think because the
younger children want to fit in with the older children in the school, who have already established a
pattern of behaviour. For some reason, boys feel the need to compete with each other and girls
prefer just to get on with each other. Are these innate differences that they were born with or are
they picked up because children need to fit into the school environment?
3
Track 1.05

Interviewer Hello and welcome to the programme. Today, I’m talking to interior designer,
Maddy Smith. Maddy has got some great tips for decorating your bedroom. Maddy, can you start by
talking about cost?
Maddy Hi, yeah, let’s talk about cost.
Track 1.06
Unit 3, page 27, exercises 4 and 5

Interviewer Hello and welcome to the programme. Today, I’m talking to interior designer,
Maddy Smith. Maddy has got some great tips for decorating your bedroom. Maddy, can you start by
talking about cost?
Maddy Hi, yeah, let’s talk about cost. Well, first you need to look at your budget. How much money
do you have to spend? Don’t worry if you haven’t got a lot, not everything you buy needs to be
expensive. You can invest in a couple of quality items and build the rest around those. These other
items can be second-hand or new, it really depends on what you find.
Interviewer What planning do people need to do?
Maddy Well, you can start by choosing the carpet and the curtains. Then, tape bits of the material
onto a large board along with photos of the furniture you want, for example, and then you can see
quickly and easily if your ideas are any good. You don’t want to spend hours working on your room
only to find you don’t like it and have to start again.
Interviewer And what about choosing paint?
Maddy Paint looks a lot darker when you put it on four walls than when you only see a tiny amount
of it. Professional designers usually advise choosing a colour that’s two or three shades lighter than
the one you like. Even then, buy a tester pot for several different colours and paint a largish area on
one wall with each of the colours. Then choose the one you like best.
Interviewer Would you advise doing all the work yourself?
Maddy If you have some difficult jobs, which involve some kind of building work, obviously you need
to call in the professionals. Otherwise avoid the extra cost. Have a decorating party. Invite your
friends to help and in return give them food and drink and lots of music to keep them going.
4
Interviewer So when you’ve finished the painting and chosen your furniture, what happens
next?
Maddy That’s the fun part! You can then go out and spend the rest of your money – hopefully you
have some left – on low-cost items like beanbags, lamps, cushions and bedding. Make sure it’s all
cheap so you won't mind replacing them when a new look comes along in a few years’ time.
Track 1.07

1 Thank you for calling Jamestown College. We offer a wide variety of interesting evening
courses. Why not try a sport you’ve never done before, learn a craft, or do a practical course in how
to find employment? Please stay on the line to speak to a course advisor about the options available
to you. If you’d like to put your name down for the course, you can download the application form
from our website. Then complete it and send it in with the initial payment. If you have already
completed the form and would like to make your payment over the phone, please press ‘1’.
2 I’ve joined a tennis club so that I can play a bit in the evenings. My mum and dad didn’t
really want me to until I told them about the kind of people who play there. It’s mainly people who
work in finance, so I’m hoping to make some contacts for when I finish university. They’re really
good to play against – quite competitive and very fit. That’s what the teacher says, anyway. Quite a
few of my friends are interested in joining, so I’ve told them how to. It’ll be nice if there are more
people my age to play against.
3 Now, if you’re feeling a bit bored in the evening and you enjoy being the centre of attention,
how about getting a starring role in a play called Climbing the Career Ladder with the local theatre
group ‘The Young Vic’? You may have heard that the group were trying to find actors through the
local press to do Romeo and Juliet. However, they’ve been working hard behind the scenes and
they’ve managed to write an exciting new play themselves, so the plans have changed a bit. The
group meet on Mondays at the village hall, so come along this week to find out more.
4 I’m doing an evening class in jewellery making. Originally, I wanted to do a print making
course that I’d seen advertised last year. Unfortunately, the college isn’t running it this year.
Although this wasn’t my first choice, I’m learning a lot. I’ve made a beautiful necklace in silver and I
want to make a bracelet next. My teacher’s a professional jeweller, and she really knows her subject.
She says it’s the first time that she’s actually taught people, and you can tell! She gives us a lot of
information, but doesn’t always explain things clearly. I often have to ask her to repeat her
instructions, which can sometimes make things a bit difficult. That said, I’m pleased with the
jewellery I’ve made so far.
5
Track 1.08

Presenter Turning a hobby into a successful business may seem like a dream for most of us.
But, today, I’m talking to two young people who did just that – and turned their passions into
money. Tom is a student, but he’s got a part-time job looking after animals.
Tom Yes, that’s right.
Track 1.09

Presenter Turning a hobby into a successful business may seem like a dream for most of us.
But, today, I’m talking to two young people who did just that – and turned their passions into
money. Tom is a student, but he’s got a part-time job looking after animals.
Tom Yes, that’s right.
Presenter Tell us how that happened.
Tom Well, I’ve always loved animals and I’ve had dogs all my life. When I was twelve, our
neighbours went on holiday. They couldn’t find anyone to look after their dogs, so they asked me to
go round every day and feed the dogs and take them for a walk.
Presenter Did you get paid for it?
Tom Yes, I did – it wasn’t much, but at the time, I thought it was a lot of money, which was
fantastic!
Presenter You didn’t mind giving up your free time to walk the dogs?
Tom No. I used to walk my own dog every day anyway, so it didn’t change my routine. When I
was out in the park, people discovered that I was walking dogs as a part-time job, and I started
getting loads of requests for dog-walking. And that’s how the business started really! Now I also run
a sort of pet hotel. I take in small animals, like rabbits and hamsters, when people go on holiday. The
trouble is, I find it hard to say ‘no’. Sometimes, I’ve got too many animals and my room is more like a
zoo than a bedroom!
Presenter How do your parents feel about it?
Tom Um, they don’t like some of the animals! My mum refused to let me take in a snake once.
Presenter A snake!
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Tom Yeah. It’s a pity because I would’ve been really well paid for that!
Presenter Thanks, Tom. Well, on a different theme, we’re now going to talk to Melissa who’s
got her own very successful fashion recycling business. Melissa, how did it all start?
Melissa I’ve always been interested in fashion, and I’ve never been able to resist going into
charity shops to look for bargains. I used to drive my friends mad! But I always find such great
clothes in charity shops. I mean, look at this jacket I bought yesterday. I could improve it easily. All it
needs is a bit of shortening and maybe some new buttons and it’d be really stylish!
Presenter So you started doing this to make things for yourself to wear?
Melissa Yes, and I got so many compliments. People were always stopping me in the street
and asking me where I bought my clothes from. They were amazed that what I was wearing was just
recycled old clothing. So I decided to start a business.
Presenter And what did you do then?
Melissa Well, I realized I had the ability to see the potential in old clothes, so I started buying
things in second-hand shops and looking for vintage or designer items on internet auction sites. I’d
then turn the clothes into new, unusual creations! People even make donations – they give me bags
full of old clothes or fabric that they think I can use, so I’m never short of inspiration. I’ve got a huge
collection of material lying around.
Presenter How do you sell your clothes?
Melissa I used to sell them on Internet auction sites, but, in the end, I set up my own
website. So far, it’s been a very good move.
Presenter Why do you think people are attracted to recycled clothing?
Melissa I think people like the idea of recycling stuff, and also, everything I make is unique –
there isn’t going to be another one quite like it anywhere! And that really appeals to some people.
Presenter Thanks, both of you, for talking to us today.
Track 1.10

James Hey, Monica. That’s a nice top – is it new?
Monica It sure is! I got it online.
James Did you? I thought you liked going to the shops rather than shopping on the Internet?
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Monica I used to, when I was a bit younger. I spent less time at the shopping centre when I
started work, even though my house was right next to it. Actually, I didn’t really discover online
shopping until I broke my leg. A friend sent me a link to her favourite website to cheer me up, and as
soon as I bought my first sweater I was hooked.
Track 1.11

James Hey, Monica. That’s a nice top – is it new?
Monica It sure is! I got it online.
James Did you? I thought you liked going to the shops rather than shopping on the Internet?
Monica I used to, when I was a bit younger. I spent less time at the shopping centre when I
started work, even though my house was right next to it. Actually, I didn’t really discover online
shopping until I broke my leg. A friend sent me a link to her favourite website to cheer me up, and as
soon as I bought my first sweater I was hooked.
James So, why do you like it so much?
Monica There are lots of reasons, like being able to use search engines so you can find the
best deals across stores. And the fact that you don’t have to carry your shopping home – somebody
brings it to your doorstep for you.
James But don’t you miss not being able to pick things up off the shelf and see what they’re like?
Monica Of course that’s good, but actually it can also be one of the annoying things about
going shopping. Say you see some shoes you like and you want to try them on – what happens if
they don’t have your size? There haven’t really been any occasions when I couldn’t get something
online – I suppose that’s because there are so many companies out there, so there’s more selection.
That’s the thing I appreciate above all else.
James But aren’t you more likely to buy things for the sake of it on the Internet?
Monica I don’t think so.
James I do, especially on those discount shopping sites. They send me an email about this amazing
bike gear at a great price. I see some cycling shorts. I’ve got perfectly good cycling shorts, but these
are really good quality ones, they’re a great price and there’s only one pair left, so I buy them. If I
change my mind, I usually can’t be bothered to send them back.
Monica It’s not that difficult!
James I know. I try not to go on the Internet because I think it’s too easy to part with my cash – and
you can do it any time of the day or night. Really, online shopping is a shopaholic’s worst nightmare.
8
Monica I ask myself these questions: ‘Do I really need it?’ and ‘Can I afford it?’ If the answer
is ‘yes’ to both of those, then I buy it. I’ve got some lovely stuff online.
James But do you know the impact that all this online shopping is having on the high street? A lot
of shops are closing down; some high streets have hardly any shops left open, because people like
you don’t go shopping anymore.
Monica You can’t blame me for shops closing down, can you? I could try to do my shopping
in the places nearby, but will that really make a difference? More and more people work from home
and they’re busy. They still want to buy new things, though, and online shopping just fits in with life
these days.
James You say that now, but just see how you feel when there are no city centre shops left!
Track 1.12

Interviewer Hello and welcome to the programme. Today, I’m talking to Maya Howard. Maya is a
successful businesswoman. She also has a medical condition which means she’s partially-sighted.
Maya, how did you cope with your eye condition when you were learning to read?
Maya Well, I used to have very large print books, but I had to hold the print very close to my eyes
even with my glasses on, which meant I often got headaches. So, I learned to read Braille and that
really made my life easier.
Interviewer Did you feel different as a child?
Maya Yes, I did. I was the only child in my class that had bad eyesight and I had to wear very thick,
heavy glasses. But, most of my friends treated me as their equal, and I was good at my work, so that
made life easier, too. The others had to try much harder than me and they were always asking me to
help them. I certainly don’t have unhappy memories of school and being at university was much the
same.
Interviewer What about the world of work?
Maya I was nervous when I first started looking for jobs and, I have to say, that I also found that I
had to be a little better than the next person in order to convince the employer to hire a partially-
sighted person. I had two main jobs in my career, but I stayed in those jobs for a long time. After
that, I decided to start my own business.
Interviewer What advice would you give young people with eyesight difficulties?
9
Maya You need to have confidence and self-belief and train yourself to use all the equipment and
technology that’s available to blind and partially-sighted people today, so that you can be
independent. I have screen-reading software, and electronic speech note-taking devices. But I also
use traditional aids, such as a white cane, which helps me get around and Braille which is invaluable.
I think young people should also make sure they meet other blind and partially-sighted people by
joining organizations, then they can find out how they cope with their lives.
Track 1.13

Dan Hey, Abby. Look at this advert for environmentally-friendly holidays. Doesn’t it sound like a
great idea?
Abby Environmentally-friendly holidays? What on earth are they?
Dan Well, hang on a minute and let me have a closer look at the advert. Let’s see what it says …
Well, it says that eco-tourism is all about visiting places of natural beauty and interest and helping to
protect and conserve them for the future. There are places all over the world where you can go.
Track 1.14

Dan Hey, Abby. Look at this advert for environmentally friendly holidays. Doesn’t it sound like a
great idea?
Abby Environmentally friendly holidays? What on earth are they?
Dan Well, hang on a minute and let me have a closer look at the advert. Let’s see what it says …
Well, it says that eco-tourism is all about visiting places of natural beauty and interest and helping to
protect and conserve them for the future. There are places all over the world where you can go.
Abby That sounds really boring. Why would you want to go on holiday and do some work?
Dan Because it’s a good thing to do and it’s interesting to learn about how other people live.
Abby Well, I think it would cost a fortune and, anyway, air travel is one of the biggest factors in
increasing pollution.
Dan OK, OK. I see what you’re saying about flying, but you could choose a different form of
transport. You don’t have to fly to your destination.
Abby And how do you propose travelling to South America? Are you going to swim?
10
Dan Ha, ha. Very funny. No, I was thinking of looking into one of these holidays in Scotland, then
a group of us could go in one car or we could get the bus or the train there. It would be an amazing
experience.
Abby Wow! You’re really into this idea, aren’t you, Dan?
Dan Yes, I am. I think it would be great to be on holiday and to know that I’d be doing something
to help other people and the environment at the same time.
Abby OK. So tell me a bit more about this Scottish eco-holiday then!
Dan Well, there are three cottages in the grounds of a working farm near Inverness. The farm’s in
the highlands of Scotland, it says here. All the cottages have energy-efficient household appliances,
all the products in the house are environmentally-friendly and you eat organic meat and vegetables
that are delivered to your door from a local supplier.
Abby Mmm. And what about the ‘work’ part? What’s involved?
Dan Well, we work on the farm with the owners and we help deliver the organic meat and veg
boxes.
Abby Doesn’t sound like much of a holiday to me. I think I’d still prefer to lie on a beach for two
weeks!
Dan Aw, come on, Abby! I’m going to find out how much it’d cost and see if I can convince you to
come.
Track 1.15
Unit 9, page 75, exercises 3 and 5

Presenter For many people with busy working lives, leisure means sitting in front of the
television or going out with friends. But is this really the best use of free time? I’d like to suggest that
there are more creative, rewarding things you can do without tiring yourself out mentally or
physically.
The first, and perhaps the most important suggestion I’d make, is that you should consider taking up
an activity which stretches the brain. It could be something long-term like learning a new language
or something as simple as reading a challenging book. In other words, it could be anything which
keeps your brain active and is distinct from your daily routine. And if your friends wonder why you’re
not watching the TV programmes you used to chat about together, don’t be defensive – just explain
why you’re doing what you’re doing – or even suggest that they join you.
Equally important is regular physical activity. It could be a sport, going to the gym or something as
down-to-earth as walking or cycling. This will keep your body and your mind alert. A regular gym
session will not only boost your energy levels, it will actually help you to relax.
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From everything I’ve said, you probably think I’m completely anti-television. I’m not, but what I am
against is the idea of sitting on the sofa, channel-hopping all evening. It’s such an incredible waste of
valuable time. Watch TV by all means, but plan ahead. Pick out a few favourite programmes, and
when they’re over, switch off the TV and do something more constructive.
Another idea is to take up a new hobby. We may think of hobbies as activities only children have
time for, but for adults they can be a way of meeting new people and acquiring new skills. Typical
hobbies might be playing a musical instrument in a local group, taking up photography, restoring
classic cars or developing original computer software. It’s usually a good idea to try to choose
something that is very different from your job. On the other hand, who knows? If you’re good at
your hobby, you might even make some money from doing it. I’ve spoken to several people whose
hobby has actually become their job.
You may be wondering how anyone has time for all these extra activities, but I think you’d be
surprised by how much of your time is currently wasted. In your mind, break your day down into
three periods of eight hours each. Allow eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, and eight hours
for other activities, which may include being with your friends and family, and mealtimes. You could
also use this time for some of the new activities I’ve been suggesting. Just think about it: eight hours
a day is 56 hours a week or over 200 hours a month!
Track 1.16

1 Lee Spalding has got the ball, he passes it to Fabio Capaldi, who takes a shot at goal. Oh, it
was close, but it’s hit the goal post … The ball is back in play. Ronnie Scott has got it, he’s halfway up
the pitch. Here comes Mark Lazenby, will he be able to do anything? Oh, it’s a foul … and it’s going to
be a penalty. Who’ll take it? It’s Martin Lamar. City are looking tense. The last thing they need as
we’re coming up to extra time is for Rovers to score. Martin is taking his time here, he looks nervous.
It would be such a result if he could get this one in the net right now. He takes it and it’s a
GOALLLLLL!
2 At the end of the race, I came round the corner into Greenwich and the crowd were
screaming. I crossed the line and I can only describe it as like not being on planet Earth at that
moment. And afterwards I celebrated for a bit and was really happy with how I’d done, and then
about thirty minutes later I started to cry and felt annoyed that I hadn’t won. Being competitive is
what drives me. I’m always trying to improve because I want to win. That’s not how everyone does
it, but that’s what keeps me going.
3 I’m not very good at team sports. I prefer setting myself personal challenges. Like trying to
beat my best time when I’m swimming, or climbing higher than I’ve ever climbed before on the
climbing wall. I suppose it’s breaking my personal record that makes me feel good about myself.
That’s why I do it. And it’s so much better than being involved in activities where people are relying
on me to perform well – that makes me feel really under pressure.
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4 I love sport, but I don’t do enough of it. It’s quite hard to fit it in when you’ve got a busy life.
I watch a lot of sport on TV though. During the Olympics I watched TV every day – I got really
addicted to it. And actually, I found the Paralympics even more exciting. The athletes who competed
were remarkable. They were so good that you forgot that they were sitting in a wheelchair, or that
they were an amputee. The obstacles that they have overcome must be immense.
Track 1.17

Presenter Today, I’m in the studio with scientist Kevin Warwick. Now, Kevin, I believe that
some years ago you had a microchip implanted in your arm to find out what could happen when a
man is combined with a computer.
Kevin That’s right – that was Project Cyborg. So as part of that, I went to New York and there was a
robot hand back in England. I was able to control it using my neural signals, which were sent via the
microchip in my arm and across the Internet to the robot hand.
Presenter That is amazing! What kind of actions were you able to perform?
Kevin Well, for example, I was able to squeeze my hand and that signal was then sent to the robot
hand, which responded. I could also feel how much force the robot hand was applying even though I
was on another continent. That meant I was able to extend my nervous system over the Internet.
Presenter That’s incredible. And didn’t your wife also take part?
Kevin That’s right. She had an electrode implanted too and we did a basic communication
experiment – when my wife closed her hand, my brain received a pulse.
Presenter But I suppose not many people plug things into their body that can send signals to
their brain.
Kevin No, the only other time anyone has done this, it’s been about sending signals which are then
used to do things like operate a robot hand. I think so far it’s just me who’s actually been able to
receive signals into the brain.
Presenter So you used yourself to experiment on. Were you worried that things might go
wrong?
Kevin Actually, one worry was that we wouldn’t get approval to go ahead with the project. The
surgeons had a lot to learn in order to carry it out. OK, something could’ve gone wrong, but that was
part of the experiment … but I think it was tremendously exciting.
Presenter So is that why you did it? For the excitement?
13
Kevin Partly that. I really loved sci-fi as a kid so when I had the chance to take part in a kind of sci-fi
experiment myself, I couldn’t turn it down. But I also wanted to experience it myself so scientifically I
could feel and learn and adapt and see how long it took … and it was dangerous, so if something had
gone wrong, I’d have been responsible for destroying someone else’s brain, and I wouldn’t have
wanted that.
Presenter In your book – In the Mind of the Machine – you estimate that robots will take
control of the planet by 2050. Do you still believe that?
Kevin I decided on that date because many of us will be around to see it –rather than being
something that we don’t have to think about because it’s centuries away. At the time the book was
published, I was pretty much the only person with that view, but now there are many other people
who predict the same thing. In fact, a more likely date is sooner – 2025!
Presenter That’s quite soon!
Kevin Yes, but already we’re using artificial intelligence to do more and more things, particularly in
the military. There are some people who already say we should cut artificial intelligence out of
everything, but I can’t see that happening. I think we’ll be too dependent on it – we already are!
Track 1.18

Beth It’s amazing, when you look back at the last 30 years, just how much the world has changed.
I mean, can you imagine a world without the Internet, email, mobile phones even …?
Mark Mmm, it’s funny to think that, one day, we’ll look back at this decade and think, ‘How
different things were then!’
Beth I think the biggest change we’ll see in the future is in the environment.
Mark You’re right.
Track 1.19

Beth It’s amazing, when you look back at the last 30 years, just how much the world has changed.
I mean, can you imagine a world without the internet, email, mobile phones even …?
Mark Mmm, it’s funny to think that, one day, we’ll look back at this decade and think, ‘How
different things where then!’
Beth I think the biggest change we’ll see in the future is in the environment.
14
Mark You’re right. Experts predict that our population will have exceeded 9 billion by the year
2050. If that’s true, we’ll need to produce 50% more food than we are now. There’ll be huge
demands for food, water and energy.
Beth We’ll probably all be starving and fighting wars over resources.
Mark Well, hopefully there will be other solutions! We’ll certainly have to rethink food production
– we won’t be able to rely on imports any more.
Beth I agree. We’ll have to increase our production of genetically modified crops, no matter how
unappealing that might seem now. If we don’t, we won’t have enough food for everyone! As for
fishing, I think at the end of this century there simply won’t be enough fish for people to eat.
Mark I’m less pessimistic about the future than you are, Beth. I think the environment will be far
better than it is right now.
Beth Why do you say that?
Mark Well, I think we’ll all be using wind energy and solar energy. Perhaps we’ll even find a new,
harmless energy source. Frankly, we don’t have any choice – we must find a replacement for fossil
fuels. I think, sooner or later, everyone will accept that climate change is a fact and we have to do
something about it.
Beth I suppose you believe that we’ll all be using cars that run on water!
Mark We might! I’m sure that in the future we’ll have the technology to develop this. People are
already using less plastic and more biodegradable materials – so I think this trend will grow and
grow.
Beth Well, I worry about our wildlife, too. We’re losing more of our rare habitats because of
climate change and deforestation. I think it’s inevitable that more animals and plants will become
extinct.
Mark But climate change will also help the spread of different species around the world, won’t it?
Our climate will be better suited to birds and animals that are originally from other countries.
Beth Yes, that’s happening now. We’re already seeing insects and birds that don’t normally live in
the UK.
Mark Well, that might be a positive thing about the future, too! And I can think of others …
Beth Such as?
Mark Well, even now, scientists are researching ways of controlling the weather, so I’m sure
they’ll find a way to make more accurate predictions and, eventually, to control the weather.
Beth Really? Controlling the weather?
15
Mark Yes! I read a news story on the Internet recently – scientists created more than 50 artificial
rainstorms in areas where it hadn’t rained for months! Controlling the weather like this would have
a huge impact. We could use it to stop droughts and help farmers to grow crops.
Beth It sounds amazing.
Mark So, it’s not all bad news, is it?
Beth No, I suppose not.
Track 2.02
Exam Practice Extra 1, page 102, exercise 2

Presenter Good afternoon and welcome to this special Valentine’s Day programme on love.
Today we’re talking to Sandra Holiman about her Valentine’s Day dating experiences. Sandra, good
afternoon and welcome to the programme.
Sandra Thank you.
Presenter I understand that you have had quite a few dating experiences, Sandra, some more
interesting than others! Can you tell us a bit about one of them?
Sandra Yes, certainly. Well, I work for a charity and three years ago, in order to raise more money,
the charity decided that all the employees had to go on a blind date on Valentine’s Day.
Presenter So how did the company set it up?
Sandra Well, everyone had to fill in a form. You know, er, details about your age, height, hobbies,
work, things like that. The forms were then put into a central system, which matches you to your
blind date.
Presenter And were there an equal number of women and men?
Sandra Well, that’s the interesting thing – the first time we did it, more women than men took part
and we had to ask more men to join in!
Presenter And did people tell the truth on the form?
Sandra I must confess I didn’t! I wrote that I was taller than I was because I wanted to be matched
to a tall man. I knew if I put down my real height, I’d end up with someone who wasn’t particularly
tall. I think if you want to take it seriously, then you probably should fill in the form truthfully, but I
think people who are just doing it for a bit of a laugh probably tell a few untruths here and there.
Presenter And once you’d been matched to your blind date, what happened next?
Sandra We agreed on a time and a place to meet each other.
16
Presenter And how did you recognize the other person?
Sandra Well, for example, I agreed to wear a red rose in my jacket on my first date and I asked the
man I was meeting to bring one, too.
Presenter And what was your first blind date like?
Sandra Well, we’d agreed to meet in a local pub, and when I got there, I couldn’t believe it. There
was this scruffy-looking guy there with a cigarette in his mouth, and I thought, ‘I hope that’s not
him’, but it was! We ended up having a really good evening and we got on really well together. We
saw each other for a few weeks after that, but then we just drifted apart and stopped seeing each
other.
Presenter And have you gone on any more blind dates since then?
Sandra Yes, my company still sets up blind dates on Valentine’s Day, so I always go on one then. And
I’ve had a few blind dates in between, which friends have set up for me. But I’m not seeing anyone
at the moment ...
Presenter Well, thank you, Sandra, for sharing your dating experiences with us, maybe we can
catch up with you again next year.
Track 2.03

Host So, everyone has made a mistake or two at the dining table, right? Maybe filling your glass
too full, or using the wrong fork, or speaking with your mouth full. Sometimes we break the rules
when it comes to eating out – especially, it seems, when we’re abroad. With me today I have two
people who are experts in the field: food journalist Tania Klein and Raheem Stone, who lectures in
cultural anthropology here in the US. Raheem, any embarrassing moments for you?
Raheem Oh, sure, loads. The problem is, in some cultures, what seems like a simple mistake
can actually be taboo behaviour – something that’s forbidden or shouldn’t be done, and which
causes embarrassment or offense. For travellers, it can be difficult to know which behaviours are
appropriate and which are inappropriate. Something that’s OK in China isn’t acceptable in Germany;
something that may be permitted in the US might not be acceptable in Korea. It’s so easy to get
things wrong without realizing it.
Host Tania, does that sound familiar to you?
17
Tania Absolutely, yes. I remember being at a formal dinner in Paris. I was using my fork in my right
hand, like we do in the US, and placed my left hand in my lap, under the table – the wrong thing to
do in France, apparently. In France, you keep both hands gracefully balanced on the table’s edge,
and of course, you hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. My “improper” behaviour
at this very lovely dinner disturbed the gentleman on my left so much that he picked up my hand
and put it back on the table. It surprised me, but I sure kept my hands where they belonged for the
rest of that meal! And so did he, I’m glad to say.
Raheem I can relate to that. I’ve been in plenty of awkward situations eating out in other
countries. You have to be extremely careful about food etiquette. For example, … I was with a group
from China and we were passing the food around, and it was pieces of fish, quite small pieces. And I
took three or four pieces and offered the plate to the next person. And then I realized that everyone
else took just one piece before passing the plate. That’s because in Chinese culture, it’s important to
make sure that everyone gets an equal share of the meal. No one said anything, but I felt bad about
being the greedy Westerner.
Host Tania, is it important to be open about what you do and don’t eat when you’re abroad?
Tania Yes, it’s important to remember that people may eat a certain way because of their ethical
beliefs – like your Chinese hosts, Raheem – or because of their religion – or a medical condition they
might have. So, tell your hosts what your preferences are – they don’t want to embarrass you, after
all. And they certainly don’t want to present you with food that you can’t eat. But don’t be afraid to
try something just because it looks or smells unfamiliar. You may be pleasantly surprised, and your
hosts will appreciate it.
Host Good point. You had an experience in Taiwan, didn’t you? With stinky tofu?
Tania Oh, the stinky tofu ... Yes, that was bad. We were filming in the street, trying street food.
Everybody was eating at this one stall, all local people. And nobody warned me, they just handed me
this thing and I put it in my mouth.
Host And what happened?
Tania It was awful. I spat it out, into my hand. On camera. Really embarrassing.
Host You really did that?
Tania Yes, I really did.
Host OK, moving on. Raheem, a last piece of advice?
Raheem Don't spit out your food! No, I'm kidding. Do your homework before you go abroad.
Watch what the locals do, try to copy them, be adventurous. And don’t try something for the first
time with a camera pointing at you!
18
Track 2.04

James Hello. I’m James Morgan and you’re listening to Streetwise, the programme where we focus
on urban issues around the country. This morning I’m talking to you live from Liverpool. I’m standing
in a part of the city where many of the buildings, bridges and bus shelters have been covered from
top to bottom in graffiti. It’s certainly very colourful … I’m about to interview some young people to
find out how they feel about it. First of all, let’s talk to seventeen-year-old Brendan. Brendan, what
do you think when you see all of this graffiti – is it art or is it vandalism?
Brendan Well … it depends, some of it is ugly and boring, but a lot of it is very, very artistic.
Like that one over there … that looks like some kind of space-age city … and that one, the one that
looks like a kind of sci-fi monster. I think they show real artistic talent. You know, if you saw those in
an art gallery, you’d think they were pretty good.
James And what about this one over here? It’s not a picture. It’s just the graffiti artist’s name. It’s
his signature.
Brendan No, it’s not a picture, but the design of the signature is brilliant. I love those bright
colours, the blues with the green and the yellow and the silver. You know these buildings round here
are so grey. The graffiti really brightens the place up, really brings some life to the area.
James Thanks, Brendan … Hi. What’s your name?
Lauren My name’s Lauren.
James How old are you Lauren?
Lauren Sixteen.
James And do you live round here?
Lauren No, I don’t actually live in Liverpool. I’ve just come here for a few days to see my friend who
lives here.
James And what do you think of this graffiti?
Lauren I don’t like it at all.
James Really? None of it?
Lauren No, it just makes me feel … I don’t know … nervous. It’s like a sign that it’s not a safe area. I
think a lot of the graffiti is sprayed by gangs and that makes me feel kind of scared.
James Uh-huh. I see. Thanks, Lauren … Hello, what’s your name?
Shaun Shaun.
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James How old are you?
Shaun Nineteen.
James And do you live here?
Shaun No, but I go to the art college just on the other side of the station.
James And what do you think about the graffiti? Is it art or vandalism?
Shaun Well, it’s both, isn’t it? It is art – you know, some of these images are brilliant. It must take a
long time and a lot of imagination to create them. I can’t disagree with that. But it is illegal. You can’t
just paint or spray on somebody else’s wall.
James So you would call it vandalism, then?
Shaun Definitely … it costs a lot of money, you know, thousands and thousands of pounds every
year, to remove the graffiti. That’s money that the owners of the buildings, or the council if it’s a
public building, have to pay.
James Yes, good point. Thanks, Shaun … and finally, hello and what’s your name?
Miriam I’m Miriam. I’m eighteen and I live just over there.
James So, what’s your opinion, Miriam? Art or vandalism?
Miriam Well, I think a lot of it is just ugly and has no meaning, but some graffiti has a political
message, like anti-war or anti-capitalism. Some of it really makes you think. I think it’s really
important for young people to have the opportunity to express themselves in that way.
James But it is illegal, though, isn’t it?
Miriam Yes, I know and that’s a problem. In my opinion, the best solution would be to have walls in
different areas of the city that are specially for graffiti artists. That way they can take their time and
produce great art without worrying about breaking the law.
James Mm. Interesting idea.
Track 2.05

Peter Hello. Thanks for inviting me on the programme.
Interviewer Well, thank you for coming – and for giving up some of your free time!
Peter Thanks! It’s nice to have an afternoon away from the school, but I’ll have to catch up with
the marking this evening!
20
Interviewer Sorry about that. We all know how hard you teachers work! So, Peter – we’ve seen
reports this week that say the government is thinking about getting rid of assessed coursework for
students. According to these reports, many students are copying information from the internet or
books in order to get better grades. Today, I’d like to discuss this issue with you. Do you think
coursework is still a valuable means of assessing students, or should we just have exams?
Peter We have to put the issue of cheating in perspective. I really believe that the majority of
students do their own work. As a teacher, I know my students well, and it’s easy to spot when they
have cheated. Most people naturally have their own style, so when the style suddenly changes, I can
tell that they have copied.
Interviewer But are you sure about that?
Peter Of course I can’t be one hundred per cent certain all the time, but I know my students, and I
know what they’re capable of and what they’re not capable of.
Interviewer So you don’t agree with those people who say we should get rid of all coursework?
Peter No way! Coursework is extremely valuable for students. It’s a way of encouraging them to
research subjects which we haven’t had time to look at in class. Coursework uses different skills, too,
which we can’t test in exams.
Interviewer Such as?
Peter Well, research skills: using libraries, looking up information, putting large amounts of
material together. Obviously, the type of coursework is different for different subjects, so it tests
different things. But I generally find that students benefit a lot from coursework, and it really helps
them to get interested in a subject.
Interviewer And ‘ordinary’ homework can’t do that?
Peter No. Homework assignments still have to be done, of course, but they’re very limiting. For
homework, we usually give students short pieces of work. This is useful, and it often can be quite
challenging, but I don’t think it is enough. Coursework can be much more complex. For example, I’ve
just asked my students to complete projects about town development. One of my students did her
project about a shopping mall. She wanted to find out about its history, so she conducted surveys,
interviewed different managers and shoppers, took photographs, and read lots of local newspaper
articles. A lot of time and commitment went into that piece of coursework. She learned a lot from it,
and it will contribute to her final examination mark, quite rightly, I believe.
Interviewer Yes, I can see how useful that sort of thing might be. But don’t you think that after
the recent reports we should be focusing more on testing students in exams? Then, at least, we
would know the results are right!
21
Peter But would we? There have been cases where students have bought exam papers on the
Internet! And exams aren’t always fair. They favour students who have a good memory, and they
penalize those students who get nervous. And what if you’re ill? Or if you didn’t sleep the night
before? No, our education system revolves far too much around exams today as it is – test after test
from the age of five! Coursework for GCSE must stay for the good of students’ education and
personal development.
Interviewer You certainly have strong opinions on the issue!
Peter I do!
Interviewer Well, thank you, Peter, for sharing your thoughts with us. After the next record I
shall be taking your phone comments on what Peter has said …
Track 2.06

Interviewer This evening, in our series Jobs Abroad, our special guest is actor Tom Dickens,
famous for many roles, but probably most of all for playing Robin Hood. First up, Tom has an
interesting story to tell about how his first ’acting role’ got him into trouble. Tom, welcome.
Tom Hi, good to be here.
Interviewer So, Tom, the story you’re about to tell us takes place in France, and it’s a true story, I
believe.
Tom Absolutely. I’d been studying French in the local town and someone I was studying with
knew the manager of a local tourist centre. He’d been advertising for a while but hadn’t found
anyone who spoke good English and French, so I got the job. The only applicant. Ha-ha.
Interviewer Right. So, give us a bit more background. What did you do?
Tom The tourist centre was on a campsite in the mountains. My job was to work at a stand selling
boat rides and fishing passes to the tourists, oh and soft drinks and ice creams and so on. There were
visitors from all over Europe: Holland, Italy, Germany, England, and of course France. If people didn’t
speak French, I’d try to explain to them in English. Best of all, I was glad to get out of the classroom
and into the fresh air.
Interviewer And, people who know you won’t be surprised to hear you got into trouble.
Tom Well, yes. The thing is I got fed up with British tourists. They were the only ones who didn’t
make any effort to speak French, which was ridiculous because nearly everyone learns some French
at school. So, one day, I decided not to speak any English at all. It was my first acting job, in a way.
The manager didn’t mind. He thought it was funny. He had a thing about the British filling up their
cars with British food when they came on a camping holiday to France, which made him mad.
22
Interviewer So, tell us what happened.
Tom Well, this particular day an English man and his wife and their two kids came along, and, as
usual, made no effort to speak French, so I gave them a hard time, in French. They asked to speak to
the manager in case he spoke English, but all I did was shrug and stare. Sure enough, with the aid of
a dictionary, after a couple of minutes, they’d found enough words to hire a couple of rowing boats
and buy some ice-creams. All in French.
Interviewer And then things got complicated.
Tom Right. Half an hour later, the manager’s wife tells me her husband has collapsed and I need
to go and get the English doctor, the man who had just hired the boats. The problem was he was
already on the other side of the lake. I whistled and shouted ‘Au sécours!’, which is French for ’Help!’
but he didn’t react. Finally, the manager’s wife managed to find his mobile number, and I had to call
him ... in English.
Interviewer Oh dear.
Tom Yes, well, I explained the manager has collapsed and that we needed his help. I apologized
profusely! He was not amused, but came back anyway. He was so angry, he didn’t say another word
to me his whole stay. He saved the manager’s life, that was the main thing.
Interviewer Right, so what did you get out of the experience?
Tom My wife says I haven’t learned anything at all – that I’m still like that. She says I always think I
know how everyone else should behave.
Interviewer Do you think she has a point? I mean, you do have this reputation ...
Tom Well, I can’t say I blame the doctor for being so angry. He was trying to teach me a lesson,
much as I was him. In that sense, I suppose my wife has a point. But it’s not such a bad way to be.
Nobody has to agree with me.
Interviewer Well, it’s a funny story. Thanks, Tom, for being here to tell it to us. Now, we’re going
to take a commercial break, but don’t go away because afterwards, Tom is going to tell us how ...
23
Track 2.07

1 I had heard of credit card cloning. That’s when somebody makes a copy of your credit card
that they can then use wherever they like. Of course, I didn’t think it would happen to me until I got
a call from the fraud department of my bank. The reason they knew that somebody had cloned my
card was that on a day when I’d used my card in London, somebody had also used the card to
withdraw cash in New York. The bank realized it was impossible for me to be in two places at once
like that, and they stopped my card. It hasn’t stopped me using my credit card, but I probably look at
my statement more often these days.
2 It doesn’t seem that long ago when everyone was living on credit. Nobody used cash to pay
for anything, and it just seemed normal to buy what you wanted on your card whether you had the
money or not. Then, the credit crunch happened, countries started going bankrupt and people
began to analyse their own attitude to money. I think quite a lot of people tried to pay off their
credit card debts at that point. I did anyway. It took a long time and made me realize how hard it
was to save that sort of money. I think I became a bit more responsible. These days I still have a
credit card for emergencies, but I like to pay for everything in cash if I can.
3 I didn’t use to be very good at saving money until somebody recommended a simple way of
doing it. You just open different savings accounts for different things that you want to save for. So
you could have a holiday account, a deposit for a house account and a car account. I don’t earn loads
of money, but every month I transfer a bit of cash into each of my different savings accounts. You
hardly notice it coming out of your current account and it’s amazing how quickly it mounts up!
4 Money and financial planning has recently been added to the UK curriculum. Children
between the ages of eleven and fourteen can now learn about things like budgeting and managing
money in maths and citizenship lessons. There has been a campaign to include this type of
information in lessons for several years and many people are delighted about the fact that children
now have the opportunity to learn about money from an early age. And hopefully, as these children
grow older, the country may become better equipped to deal with its finances.
Track 2.08

Presenter We all know that teenagers find it difficult to get up and go to school in the morning,
but is this simply because they are lazy? Today we have with us Professor Michael Butcher from
Leicester University. Professor Butcher, good morning.
Professor Butcher Good morning.
24
Presenter So why is it that teenagers seem to have lots of energy to stay up late at night and
yet they find it so difficult to get up in the mornings?
Professor Butcher Well, it may seem like laziness, but in fact it is related to their hormones. As
I’m sure you know, teenagers start to suddenly produce a lot of hormones which, among other
things, help them to grow, but they can also have a huge effect on their sleeping routine.
Presenter What’s the difference between an adult and a teenager’s sleep routine?
Professor Butcher At night time, when it’s dark, we produce a hormone called melatonin which
helps us to fall asleep. Melatonin is sometimes called the darkness hormone. Most adults start to
produce melatonin, which makes them feel tired, at about 10 p.m. Teenagers, on the other hand,
don’t start producing melatonin until about 1 a.m. So, often, when adults are ready to go to bed,
teenagers are just not tired.
Presenter So is there a reason why teenagers don’t produce this hormone until later?
Professor Butcher Well, it’s a natural thing that happens in all teenagers. It’s also possible that
the kind of things teenagers do in the evenings stops them from getting tired. Televisions and
computers give out bright light and that stops melatonin from being produced. Remember that
melatonin is a darkness hormone.
Presenter I see … So what happens if teenagers don’t get enough sleep?
Professor Butcher Sleep is important for everyone, but it is especially important for teenagers
because their bodies grow while they are asleep. The fact is that teenagers need more sleep than
both children and adults, but they actually get less than either.
Presenter Right, so we shouldn’t make teenagers get up early at the weekend because they
need that extra sleep.
Professor Butcher That’s right – they need that time, not only to grow, but also because if they
don’t have enough sleep, they can be moody and sometimes depressed.
Presenter It’s also difficult for teenagers to study in the mornings if they feel so tired.
Professor Butcher Well, in America, some schools start classes later to give teenagers extra
time to sleep.
Presenter Really? Do the students work better?
Professor Butcher They aren’t sure. They’re doing some research at the moment.
Presenter It certainly sounds interesting.
25
Track 2.09

Beth Hi, everyone, welcome to Canyonlands National Park. My name is Beth. I’m one of the park
rangers here at Canyonlands. We want you all to have a great time on your visit, and we want you to
stay safe, so my colleague, Cody, will take you through some of the safety guidelines a little later.
Nothing to worry about. But first I want to start by telling you all something about the park in
general. OK? Great. So let’s start. How many visitors do you think the park gets each year?
Visitors A hundred thousand … Forty thousand ... Five hundred thousand …, etc.
Beth OK, some good guesses there. Over 400,000 people visit Canyonlands National Park every
year. That’s a lot of visitors for a park here in this little corner of Utah, but we have a lot to offer. You
can go hiking, of course. We’re going to take a short hike together today. We also have a lot of
visitors who bring mountain bikes or backpacking gear for longer expeditions into the park. We have
some awesome places to camp, but there’s no wild camping. It’s a great place for rock-climbing, too,
and horseback riding. I guess you all know that the canyons here are formed by rivers, which have
cut through the rock over millions of years. We have two rivers in the park. Anyone know what they
are?
Visitors Colorado River.
Beth Yes. That’s one ...
Visitors Snake River?
Beth Not the Snake River. We do have snakes, though.
Visitors Utah River?
Beth No … it’s the Colorado River and the Green River. And even with these two rivers, it’s
incredibly dry here! I mean really dry – Canyonlands only receives ten inches of rainfall every year.
We’re in a desert here, but it’s a beautiful desert, right? We’re not the first people to have enjoyed
this place. Cowboys used to bring their cows here in the 1880s. There are Native Americans who still
live here, mainly Navajo. And this area was once the home of the Ancestral Puebloan people around
800 years ago. You can see traces of them all over the park. There’s some incredible Puebloan rock
art on the canyon walls and you can still see the remains of original stone houses and other
buildings. I hope you can see some of those while you’re here. So … anybody seen any wildlife?
Visitors Just birds.
Beth Just birds, OK. We have some amazing wildlife here. We have over 200 species of birds,
various reptiles – including snakes – and over 50 species of mammals. If you’re lucky, you might see
a kangaroo rat, which is Cody’s favourite. It got its name because it jumps around like a kangaroo,
obviously …, but it’s much smaller. Kangaroo rats are uniquely adapted to living here in the desert.
They only eat plants, and what’s interesting about them is they don’t drink – they get all the water
26
they need from the food they eat. So that’s how they survive in this extremely dry climate. However,
I don’t recommend you try this. We’re going to be starting today’s hike in just a few minutes. Ideally,
everyone should be carrying at least two pints of water, so please make sure to fill your water
bottles before we go, OK?
Track 2.10

Conversation 1
A So what’s going on here?
B Well this is an installation by Ernesto Neto.
A Oh yeah? Is he a famous artist?
B He is in Brazil. But he’s internationally known, too. He’s had his work exhibited in a lot of
countries.
A OK. So what do we do with this? … Do we go in?
B Yep – Neto’s installations are meant to be experienced from the outside and the inside! He
belongs to a movement where the spectator actively engages with the art.
A So what does that mean, exactly?
B Well, he creates environments. For example, this knitted walkway that we’re on now. He
learned how to crochet from his grandmother, apparently.
A And what are we supposed to do on this knitted walkway? … It’s pretty unstable!
B Hold onto the sides and relax a little! Enjoy the way it sways and moves.
A OK I’ll try. By the way, can you smell something … spicy?
B Mmm. Yes. That’s another thing Neto likes to do. He uses smells in his installations. Look –
there’s candy, too.
A Are you eating it?
B Yes, why not? It’s an interactive experience, remember!
Conversation 2
A Who’s this painting by?
B Frida Kahlo – a famous Mexican painter.
27
A It’s quite a strange picture – I’m not sure what it’s all about.
B Well, Frida Kahlo is the woman in the centre of the picture. She’s very striking, isn’t she?
A Yes, she is – and I love her pink dress. On the left hand side of the painting there’s a temple –
an Aztec temple – right?
B Yep – the left side of the painting represents Mexico – and the other side is the US I think.
A Do you think Kahlo wanted Mexico to be more like the US?
B I get the feeling she didn’t want that. Don’t you think she’s holding the Mexican flag as a sign
of loyalty to her country?
A Yes, I guess so. Though the expression on her face doesn’t give anything away … you know,
about how she’s feeling. She’s kind of inscrutable like the Mona Lisa. And look – she’s holding a
cigarette.
B That’s an interesting detail! Why do you think she’s standing on a pedestal?
A I think it’s sort of symbolic – she’s standing – a bit like a statue – between these two
different worlds …
B OK – I see that. There’s capitalist, industrialized America – and then there’s Kahlo’s Mexico –
which still has its roots in the past – with the flowers, the ancient temple, the sun and the moon.
A It says here, next to the painting, that Kahlo travelled for four years in the US with her
husband. And that the country gave her a sense of alienation … [fade]
Conversation 3
A I just think this is an amazing painting. The first time I saw it, it took my breath away.
B You have to be kidding! I mean, it’s just a few blocks of red and orange paint with blurry
edges.
A This is Rothko’s signature style. No figures, no symbols, just blocks of colour.
B So what’s it supposed to mean, anyway?
A Well, this is just my opinion, but I don’t think it’s supposed to “mean” anything in particular.
It’s about the process of creating and experiencing art.
B According to the guidebook, Rothko wanted to break down barriers between the artist and
his audience. That’s why he didn’t frame his work. I don’t get that. Do you?
A Yes, I think so. He didn’t want frames getting in the way. He wanted people to get really
close to his pictures … to lose themselves in them.
B Well, I’m not losing myself in this one. How about you?
28
A Yes, actually. It really speaks to me emotionally. It’s like listening to a really moving piece of
music.
B Well, it isn’t music to my ears, that’s for sure. And I wouldn’t hang it in my living room.
A Sorry to break this to you, my friend, but you wouldn’t be able to. Rothko’s paintings sell for
millions of dollars! You’d better leave this one where it is.
B You know, I couldn’t agree more.
Track 2.11

Presenter … You’re listening to Talk America with Adam Scott. We have in the studio with us
Luisa Duarte, representing the Challenged Athletes Foundation in southern California. Luisa,
welcome, good to have you with us.
Guest Thank you, Adam, it’s nice to be here.
Presenter Luisa, tell us about the Challenged Athletes Foundation. You call it CAF, don’t you?
Guest That’s right. CAF does lots of things. We organize sports events, for example. Obviously one
of our most important activities is raising money – and we’ve been very successful in that – but our
goal is to provide physically challenged athletes with the tools they need to compete successfully in
their chosen sport.
Presenter And why is that important?
Guest Well, we believe that being involved in sports at any level increases a person’s self-esteem. It
encourages their independence and improves their quality of life. We want physically challenged
athletes to be fully accepted and respected in society, and in the sports world, just like able-bodied
athletes.
Presenter So how exactly do you help these people?
Guest Many different ways. We provide grants to athletes who need money for equipment – or
coaching – or competition costs. So for example, we might help an athlete buy the wheelchair he
needs. Or, like last week, we paid for a new prosthetic leg for a female athlete from Mexico. We
work with soldiers who have been injured defending our country. We run camps and coaching clinics
to help our athletes improve their performance. And we also have a team that runs community
education programs. And in the last Paralympic Games, CAF funded 41 per cent of US athletes.
Presenter That is amazing. So how did CAF start?
Guest It started with a guy named Jim MacLaren. He was a great athlete until he got hit by a bus
while out riding his motorcycle in 1985. As a result, he lost part of one leg, but he didn’t give up. He
29
recovered, got a prosthetic leg and started competing in triathlons. And what’s amazing is, he beat
80 per cent of the able-bodied athletes participating. Then in 1993, he was in a road race, got hit by
a van, and was paralysed from the neck down. This left him in a wheelchair.
Presenter That’s incredibly bad luck.
Guest It is, of course. But that’s how CAF got started really. A group of Jim’s friends got together
and organized a triathlon to raise money for his care and recovery. Since that first triathlon, we’ve
raised over 76 million dollars and helped more than 13,000 challenged athletes. Sadly, Jim MacLaren
died in 2010, but his legacy lives on in the work of team CAF.
Presenter An incredible story. And we’re going to be talking some more to Luisa about the San
Diego triathlon in a few moments, right after this.
Track 2.12

Presenter Our next item is the remarkable story of a very lucky dog, and a ground-breaking
piece of biotechnology. Our reporter Emily McEvoy has the details. Emily.
Reporter Yes, David, this is the story of two-year-old Eva, a much-loved family pet in Glasgow,
Scotland. Eva was hit by a car and one of her legs was broken. She was taken to the local animal
hospital where veterinary surgeon William Marshall operated on her.
Presenter Did the operation go well?
Reporter Unfortunately not. The bones in Eva’s leg didn’t heal properly. The injury became
infected and a small section of Eva’s leg bone had to be removed. When the two parts of the bone
failed to fuse – or join together – it looked as if the leg would have to be amputated and Eva would
spend the rest of her life with only three legs. Of course, many dogs can live a perfectly normal life
with a missing leg ...
Presenter But that didn’t happen, is that right, Emily?
Reporter That’s right, David. Dr Marshall had heard about some new research being carried
out by scientists at the University of Glasgow. This is a project to develop synthetic bone tissue in
laboratory conditions. It’s being developed principally to help surgeons treating people who have
been injured by landmines around the world.
Presenter Was this technique used on Eva, then?
Reporter Yes, it was. Bone chips – tiny pieces of bone –were mixed with a naturally occurring
protein called BMP-2. These chips were held together by a common household substance called
polyethyl acrylate, or PEA, and combined with cells from Eva’s own bone tissue. The mixture was
then placed into a three-quarter-inch gap in Eva’s leg. The protein BMP-2, held in position by the
30
PEA, encouraged Eva’s leg bone to grow back together. After seven weeks, the bone was completely
healed.
Presenter That’s amazing. Is that the result they expected?
Reporter Well, this technique had never been tested on dogs or humans before. But the
research team are encouraged by the success of Dr Marshall’s operation on Eva. They believe it will
greatly assist them in their future research.
Presenter What about Dr Marshall? How did he feel? ...
Track 2.13

Interviewer … Another surfer was bitten by a shark at the weekend surfing off Swanbourne
beach – thankfully, she wasn't badly hurt. With me in the studio is oceanographer and
conservationist Kyle Williams, who is also a keen surfer. So Kyle, she was lucky, wasn't she?
Kyle She was, yes. It could have been a lot worse.
Interviewer Now Kyle, what I don’t understand is why you aren’t more worried about sharks out
there. I mean, so many surfers seem to get attacked by sharks. Don’t you get scared?
Kyle Not scared, no. I watch what’s happening in the water, obviously. I do look out for sharks.
Interviewer But isn’t there more we can do to keep sharks away from our beaches? Could we
put up nets, or something? I mean, there are a lot of sharks here in Australia – and in the US – in
places like California and Florida – and people do get bitten. Shouldn't we be more worried?
Kyle Look, sharks can be found in all the major oceans around the world. And remember that
when we go swimming or surfing in the ocean, we’re entering the shark’s environment. It’s where
they live, not us – and we should respect that. There are basic precautions anyone can take. Keep
away from areas where you know there are sharks, and avoid swimming at night.
Interviewer But surfers still get attacked. How do you explain that?
Kyle OK, first, there are over four hundred species of shark and only a handful of species are likely
to attack humans. We aren’t typical shark food – they mostly eat small fish, though larger sharks may
attack seals and other marine mammals. Most shark attacks on people are either accidents or the
result of curiosity.
Interviewer What do you mean?
Kyle If you look at a surfer lying on his board from underneath the water, you’ll see something
that looks a lot like a seal. If a shark’s passing underneath, he might easily think, ‘OK, here’s dinner!’
and take a bite – and by the time the shark realizes its mistake, it’s too late. Also, don’t forget, sharks
31
can only use their mouths to explore things. They’re naturally curious, so when they bite something
it may not be an attack, they could just be checking it out. In fact, we don’t need protecting from
sharks so much as they need protecting from us.
Interviewer Come on, why would you want to protect a killer?
Kyle Well, here’s the thing. In 2016, four people were killed by sharks worldwide – two less than
the previous year. That’s fewer than the number of people killed by dogs or lightning strikes. In
contrast, over 100 million sharks are killed each year by humans. This means that some species of
shark are critically endangered.
Interviewer I didn’t know that – why do we kill so many?
Kyle Sharks often get caught in fishing nets designed to catch other kinds of fish. So they are what
is known as ‘by-catch’. But the main problem is finning. Shark fins are used to make shark-fin soup,
which is very popular in some Asian countries. The problem is that to take the fins, you have to kill
the shark. Often, it's common practice to just cut off the fins and throw the sharks back into the
ocean, alive. It’s big business and fishermen can make a lot of money. It’s hard to see how we can
stop it happening.
Interviewer I can see that. But does it really matter if there are fewer sharks?
Kyle Yes, it really does. Sharks are apex predators – which means they’re top of the ocean food
chain. And they have an important role in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem. If you kill too
many apex predators, then the populations of other species increase, and they start to compete for
resources. That may affect other species in turn – not just fish, but plants as well. Basically, you
change the balance of the whole ecosystem. Also, sharks don’t breed quickly, so even if we stop
killing them in large quantities, it could take years for their numbers to recover.
Track 2.14
ÉRETTSÉGI PRACTICE TEST, page 186, task 1

Presenter Hello and welcome to our daily phone-in. Do you ever worry that you might be
addicted to shopping? Believe it or not, shopping addiction is a growing problem in our society. Liz is
here with me this morning to tell us her story. Liz, thank you for coming to speak to us.
Liz You’re welcome.
Presenter So can you tell us how your addiction started?
Liz Mmm. Yes, I’ve always been interested in fashion, but ummm ... when I was a student, I
never had much money. My friends and I used to go to second-hand shops to buy all our clothes.
Presenter Great idea when you’re on a tight budget.
32
Liz Yes, but it became like a game – we’d challenge each other to get the best outfits for the
lowest price. We were living in Edinburgh and there are lots of really trendy second-hand shops,
which sell vintage clothes from the 60s and 70s.
Presenter I see. So what happened?
Liz Shopping became a habit; I couldn’t pass a second-hand shop without going in to buy
something. I had a student loan and as the clothes were so cheap – it didn’t seem to matter. I had a
great social life and all I cared about was looking good.
Presenter What did you do after you graduated?
Liz I got my dream job as an architect. I received an excellent salary – I paid off my student loan,
bought a flat and a car.
Presenter Sounds like a great lifestyle.
Liz It was. I never had to worry about money, and I soon developed a taste for designer clothes.
I had several credit cards and would go shopping every weekend.
Presenter You didn’t buy second-hand clothes anymore?
Liz Oh, no, that was OK in my student days, but now I had very important clients. I couldn’t turn
up to meetings in vintage jeans and a T-shirt – I had to be able to impress them.
Presenter So what went wrong?
Liz I’d been working for the company for two years when they began to lose money. About six
months later, they went out of business and I was made redundant.
Presenter Oh dear.
Liz After that, I was unemployed. I had to sell my flat and my car, I hardly had any money, but I
kept spending. I knew that I couldn’t afford the clothes but ...
Presenter ... you kept buying designer clothes?
Liz Yes, I just used my credit card. As I got further and further into debt, I became more
depressed. The only thing that made me feel good was shopping. And I wanted to hide the fact that I
was poor and unemployed by dressing in really expensive outfits.
Presenter When did you realize that you were actually addicted to shopping?
Liz When the bank stopped my credit card. I tried to pay for some clothes at the counter of an
expensive department store and they wouldn’t accept my card. I felt myself getting hotter and
hotter, my hands were sweating and my knees started to shake. I felt completely out of control – I
thought I was going to faint. I just didn’t want to leave the store without my new clothes.
Presenter What happened next?
33
Liz By coincidence, a friend was shopping in the store. She came over and asked me if I was all
right. I started crying uncontrollably, so she took me away. She realized that I needed help and
convinced me to go to addiction counselling.
Presenter And did that help?
Liz Yes, it did, but it took eleven months to get back to normal. My therapist, Melissa, helped
me to get my confidence back. She made me realize that it’s me who’s special. It doesn’t matter
what clothes you’re wearing, it’s the person inside that’s important.
Presenter So do you have any advice for people who may be suffering from shopping
addiction?
Liz Yes, don’t use shopping to replace something that’s missing in your life. If you think you’re
addicted to shopping, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Counselling has helped me to solve my
problems and become a much happier person, and it can help you, too.
Track 2.15

Presenter Hello and welcome to Review of the Week, the programme where we look back and
comment on the main news of the week. Earlier this week, the city of Middlesbrough, in the north of
England, introduced a new system of controlling crime – ‘talking’ security cameras in the street. With
me today to talk about it is Police Superintendent Kevin Smith. Mr Smith is head of the street crime
unit for the north of England. Mr Smith, welcome to the programme.
Mr Smith Good morning.
Presenter Could you tell us something about the new ‘talking’ security cameras?
Mr Smith Yes, certainly. The city of Middlesbrough has 158 security video cameras, or CCTV
cameras, in its streets. On some of these cameras we have fitted loudspeakers so that people in the
control room who are watching what is happening on the streets, can give out verbal warnings.
Presenter Can you give us an example?
Mr Smith Well, for instance, there was one occasion when two men started fighting outside a
nightclub. One of the control room operators spoke to them over the loudspeakers and asked them
to stop. They looked up, stopped fighting, and ran in opposite directions.
Presenter Is that right? So, it was very effective in that case, then.
Mr Smith Yes, indeed. Most people are so embarrassed that they quickly go away without
causing any more trouble.
Presenter Uh-huh ... I see.

34
Mr Smith Yesterday, I was walking down the street myself and I saw a young man riding his
bike through a pedestrian area. He was seen on the camera and the voice on the loudspeaker said,
’Would the young man on the bike please get off and walk? This is a pedestrian area.’ The young
man stopped and looked around. He looked very embarrassed when he realized the voice was
talking to him. Then he got off and pushed his bike through the streets, as he was told.
Presenter Right, I see. But don’t you think this new system is a little bit like Big Brother? You
know, ’Big Brother’s watching you’. But in fact Big Brother is not only watching you, he’s shouting at
you, too ...
Mr Smith No, the point of these cameras is not to monitor innocent people, but to reduce
street crime. There is a very high street crime rate in Middlesbrough. Most people are very happy
about the new system. Nobody has asked us to take the cameras down.
Presenter So, how do they speak, the voices on the cameras, are they aggressive?
Mr Smith Oh no, not at all. The instructions are always very polite. The control room operators
have strict rules about what they can say. For example, ’Oi you! Get off your bike!’ is not allowed.
Usually they say something like: ’Warning – you are being monitored by CCTV – you are in an
alcohol-free zone – please do not consume alcohol.’ Then when the person follows the instruction,
the camera always says, ’Thank you.’
Presenter Well, it will be very interesting to see if the system is successful. Kevin Smith, thank
you very much.
Track 2.16

Presenter Many of us have seen news reports of whales and dolphins stranded on beaches,
but have you ever wondered why this happens? In the studio with me today is marine vet, Susan
Strutt. Hello, Susan.
Susan Hi.
Presenter First of all, can I ask you how long have you worked as a marine vet?
Susan I’ve been a marine vet for 35 years now.
Presenter You’re very experienced then! Now, whales and dolphins can’t survive without
water, can they?
Susan No, they can’t. These animals are different from other marine animals because they need to
breathe oxygen in the air rather than take oxygen from the water. However, they are marine animals
and they must stay in water to survive.
Presenter So what makes them come to the beaches, then?

35
Susan Well, there are two different reasons. When an animal comes to the shore alone, it’s usually
because of illness or injury.
Presenter So is it true that injured whales and dolphins come to the shore looking for help
from humans?
Susan No, it isn’t. That’s a myth. If an animal is injured, it may not be strong enough to swim and,
as a result, it ends up on the shore or further out at sea.
Presenter So they don’t want humans to help them, then?
Susan Well, dolphins can interact with humans, but they definitely don’t look for our help when
they are ill or injured.
Presenter OK. What’s the other reason that whales and dolphins end up on beaches?
Susan Well, on some occasions, a group of animals comes to the shore, maybe ten or twenty or
even a hundred, but that has nothing to do with being injured.
Presenter Why do they do it, then?
Susan We don’t really understand why it happens. One possibility is that they follow fish into
shallow water and then can’t get back into deeper water. When whales and dolphins are stressed,
they make a crying sound and then others in the group come to join them and so they all become
stranded.
Presenter So when they get stressed, they usually stay together and they don’t separate.
Susan Yes, that’s right.
Presenter And what should you do if you find a stranded whale or dolphin?
Susan The first thing to do is call the police. They will be able to find people who can care for the
mammal properly.
Presenter Should you try to push the mammal back to the water?
Susan No, you mustn’t do that. The animal’s strongest instinct is to be with the others in the group
so it will come out of the water again to be with its friends. The best thing you can do is get
professional help as quickly as you can.
Presenter Well, thank you very much, Susan. It’s been great talking to you.
36

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Oxford Exam Trainer B2 (Hungary) Student’s Book Audioscript

Unit 1, page 11, exercise 2

Unit 1, page 11, exercise 3

Mr Price So, is communal living becoming popular?

Mr Price Mmm, can you give an example?

Mr Price And is that quite common?

Emma Thank you.

Unit 2, page 19, exercise 3

Unit 3, page 27, exercise 3

Maddy Hi, yeah, let’s talk about cost.

Unit 3, page 27, exercises 4 and 5

Interviewer What planning do people need to do?

Interviewer And what about choosing paint?

Interviewer Would you advise doing all the work yourself?

Unit 4, page 35, exercise 3

Unit 5, page 43, exercise 2

Tom Yes, that’s right.

Unit 5, page 43, exercise 3

Tom Yes, that’s right.

Presenter Tell us how that happened.

Presenter Did you get paid for it?

Presenter How do your parents feel about it?

Presenter And what did you do then?

Presenter How do you sell your clothes?

Presenter Why do you think people are attracted to recycled clothing?

Presenter Thanks, both of you, for talking to us today.

Unit 6, page 51, exercise 2

Monica It sure is! I got it online.

Unit 6, page 51, exercise 3

Monica It sure is! I got it online.

James So, why do you like it so much?

Monica I don’t think so.

Monica It’s not that difficult!

Unit 7, page 59, exercise 3

Interviewer Did you feel different as a child?

Interviewer What about the world of work?

Unit 8, page 67, exercise 3

Abby Environmentally-friendly holidays? What on earth are they?

Unit 8, page 67, exercise 4

Abby Environmentally friendly holidays? What on earth are they?

Unit 9, page 75, exercises 3 and 5

Unit 10, page 83, exercise 3

Unit 11, page 91, exercise 3

Presenter So is that why you did it? For the excitement?

Presenter That’s quite soon!

Unit 12, page 99, exercise 2

Mark You’re right.

Unit 12, page 99, exercise 3

Beth Why do you say that?

Beth Such as?

Beth Really? Controlling the weather?

Beth It sounds amazing.

Mark So, it’s not all bad news, is it?

Beth No, I suppose not.

Exam Practice Extra 1, page 102, exercise 2

Sandra Thank you.

Presenter So how did the company set it up?

Presenter And were there an equal number of women and men?

Presenter And did people tell the truth on the form?

Sandra We agreed on a time and a place to meet each other.

Presenter And what was your first blind date like?

Exam Practice Extra 2, page 103, exercise 2

Host Tania, does that sound familiar to you?

Host And what happened?